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For me, July is more of a slow burn because now you’re stuck in the middle of a hot &amp; sticky summer so I chose slow burners this time around (well mostly). FKA Twigs is spectacular, all I can really compare her to is Solange and Jhene Aiko, but she’s much cooler than all her peers. Her music video shows that, inspired by Queen of the Damned there’s no other music video quite like it.

Boom Clap – Charli XCX

Soundtracks are the comeback kid of 2014. Frozen is the biggest selling album of the year and now we have the second song from a soundtrack (The Fault In Our Stars) to be big hit. I really wish Charli XCX could’ve had a hit from her excellent EP’s but Boom Clap is a great 80’s throwback that hits the sweet spot. She’s excellent and let’s make this the summer of Charli.

Shower – Becky G

And now we come to the “Call Me Maybe” of 2014. A young, Latina rap wonder-kid, Becky G has been featured with Ke$ha, Pitbull, J. Lo, 2 Chainz, etc. so it’s only natural that should would get a chance to shine on her own. Shower gives her that opportunity with a chorus as catchy as “Call Me Maybe” with a cute naivety that made that song such a phenomenon, so expect to here this song on repeat.

Geronimo – Sheppard

So catchy it should be a crime, “Geronimo” is an ear worm that will never leave. After conquering their native Austraila, Sherpard has set their sights on conquering stateside like their fellow Aussies (Sia, Iggy, kinda Lorde). And with this pounding hook and country twang, they might just do it.

Don’t Wait – Mapei

Mapei is the best of both worlds, she’s Swedish so she comes from the land of great hooks and she’s American, you can tell with this song that bridges the gap between Robyn and Beyonce. With a thrashing, tropical beat and a bombastic hook, there’s no way not to dance along as the song builds. It’s great, I can’t recommend this song enough.

Bridge – Broods

Here we are again in the Southern Hemisphere, Broods is a sneaky band that I stumbled on with Spotify radio. They’re a sibling duo from New Zealand who are good friends with Lorde and worked with her producer (there’s only one producer in New Zealand, I guess?). They hit all the right notes with a soothing back beat and simmering lyrics. Great for summer reading.

C O O L – LE YOUTH

You might recognize this song, don’t worry if you can’t place it. It took me like a good thirty minutes before I could figure out it was Cassie’s “You & I” chorus. The video kind of plays as a runway background, which makes sense because the song makes you feel like Tyra. You can do anything when this song is playing, walk fierce with your head held high when this comes on.

Cool Kids – Echosmith

I guess sibling groups are just my thing this summer, Echosmith is a sibling back from LA and they’ve crafted a mellow song perfect for pool lounging. Full of angst with lyrics about never fitting it, it’s the “Pumped Up Kicks” of 2014. Angsty and mellow, yet you can sing along and just get lost in the landscape of the song.

Gecko (Overdrive) – Oliver Heldens X Becky Hill

The only true jam I have on this list. With a 90’s House feel and a beat that just won’t quit, Overdrive is a great party-starter.

Go – Grimes ft. Blood Diamonds/ Restart – Sam Smith

Sadly, there’s no videos availible for these songs but they’re the perfect transition into late summer. Grimes gives you slow elctro-funk that builds then coasts. A great work-out jam and a great song to play three beers in when you’re tired of turning up but don’t let want to turn down (it’s a Miley thing). Restart is more of a lighter “Latch” with less disclosure and more Sam Smith heartbreak. A great mid-tempo song to keep the party going, while still showing your love for Sam Smith. No one wants to drink to “Stay With Me”.

It won’t be summer until you listen to this song. Bubbly and effortless, Rather Be blends violin and techno beats in a way that you’ve never heard before. And yes, the rest of their album is so-so but this song is perfection.

I Got U – Duke Dumont

Yes, another British dance act. This song has already hit number one in the UK and stateside, but really no poolside party would be complete without this song.

Hideaway – Kiesza

I really can’t even describe this song. There’s no words to describe how perfect this song is (I might be biased as a 90’s kid), it’s almost too House to function and I loose it every time the deep House and claps hit.

Stay High (Habits Remix) – Tove Lo

Trying to accomplish what Lana Del Rey did last summer, Tove Lo released a remix of her already-suburb song – “Stay High.” A depressing song about covering up longing with chemical release somehow sounds like a cheerful Summer jam – which really might say more about me than this song.

Chandelier – Sia

To be honest, I was not a fan. At all. I love Sia but this song was a no for me. However.. I gave it another chance and it hasn’t left my brain since. This is a song I wake up singing and I can’t recommend it enough.

Summer – Calvin Harris

Already a given. You can’t have a song called “Summer” not in a summer playlist and you can’t have summer without a new Calvin Harris song. He’s been churning out summer jamz stateside for the past two years and 2014 won’t be any different.

I Will Never Let You Down – Rita Ora

This makes me wanna do the two-hands-praising emoji in real life. That’s all you need to know. Oh, and her ex Calvin Harris made it so… this is THE SUMMER JAM.

I Luh Ya Papi – J. Lo

I don’t really luh misspelling or any of J. Lo’s last few cd’s, but this song just works. I wish it climbed the charts but it didn’t and now we can just listen to it and appreciate how redic that title is.

She’s Looks So Perfect – 5 Seconds of Summer

Okay, I never really got into 1D. They aren’t horrible but I would never buy their CD. However, 5SOS can have all my money. They remind me of Fall Out Boy, and as a I was a teenager in 2003, they hit that perfect throwback sound for me. Not to mention they write catchy hooks and aren’t bad to look at.

Brooklyn Baby – Lana Del Rey

It was so hard to pick one song to include in this list (go buy Ultraviolence, it’s perfect), so I thought what song do I play the most? “Brooklyn Baby” is the perfect mix of random Lana-ness and joyous sing-along. Yes, “Pretty When I Cry” might be better but won’t you spin and sing with me to this hipster ode?

100 – Iggy Azealea

Admission of guilt – I added this to just have the queen of summer on the list. Iggy is the Macklemore/Adele/Lorde of this year, she can’t really do wrong. I love her, her songs are catchy af and I’m pretty sure you’ve heard her other summer songs so enjoy this one before it gets overplayed.